An Augusta, Georgia man is charged with hiding the death of his 16-year-old stepdaughter.

According to WJBF, Leon Tripp faces charges of murder around the disappearance of Latania Janell Carwell (pictured above). The girl's mother, Tanya Tripp, is also charged with concealing her death.

Tripp was arrested and charged in May for kidnapping the teen. The girl was last seen leaving home with him in April. Carwell's body has not been found.

According to Crime Online,the mother was instrumental in detering the search for her daughter. “Originally she told a really good story and a lot of people came to her aid,” Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree said of Tanya. “It’s taken us that long just to peel back those layers and break down all those lies.”

He continued, saying, “So, once we start tearing away those falsehoods then we come up with the true narrative that she did not leave the home on her own like the mother originally said.”

Sheriff Roundtree also said Tanya “fought [them] every step of the way.”